I accidentally named my trilogy the same title as ANOTHER retelling of Beauty and the Beast

[Brittany]

So I wrote a retelling of Beauty and the Beast called, "Before Beauty" earlier this year. By reader request, I decided to turn it into a trilogy. Though my book title is "Before Beauty," I decided to title the actual trilogy, "Becoming Beauty Trilogy." (The successive titles will be "Blinding Beauty" and "Blossoming Beauty.") Unfortunately, I realized today that there is ANOTHER retelling of Beauty and the Beast titled, "Becoming Beauty."

Now, my book isn't actually titled the same. It's the trilogy that shares the name, and it has the word, "trilogy" attached. Do you think I need to change the name of the trilogy? I feel bad, like I'm taking another author's title, but I've already printed and sold physical copies. It was totally unplanned, and I haven't even read the other version. Thoughts? I'd really appreciate your help!

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

Nothing wrong with it, should be just fine. Remember, you can't copyright titles.

[Martin]

The lesson is that it is a great idea to search Amazon and Google to see if your titles are unique before publishing. Because you want people searching for it to be able to find it easily!

[[deleted user]]

acch! Back to the drawing board. I think this will be something you will check on next time. Probably a good-old google search before deciding on a title.
I copyrighted my first work under the name Morris Graham. Then after my copyright comes through, I find out there is another published author by the name of Morris Graham. Who knew? There was also a published author Morris A. Graham. I had to do a copyright update and make it Morris E. Graham. What a drag. Amazon still thinks there are two authors on my book, Morris Graham and Morris E. Graham.

[M.L.]

I would not change it. There are many duplicate titles in existence. Randomly pick one and you'll see them pop up.

[W.]

I agree with ML Roberts. However, originality is valued and due diligence expected.
My debut book, just published is Outland Exile. This is a joke because my wife's maiden name is Outland, so the book had been named as such since its inception, at least in my head. When I started working to publish it, I ran into the Outlander series including "The Exile," making that book the Outlander "Exile."
Nevertheless, I have kept the title because the genres are so different (fantasy -time travel vs hard science dystopia near future) and a significant lack of swash and buckling in my own work. So far no one has griped.

[Sam]

If her book is a best-seller, maybe you'll get some of the confusion :)
On a serious note, titles cannot be copyrighted. The only problem you could run into is if the author of the other book got hers out first, then sues you because a reader might legitimately confuse your book with hers, based on plot and title, thus costing her sales. If she or her publisher doesn't pursue legal action, you'll be fine. But it could happen, and it's entirely possible she could win, depending on how close your story is to hers. I refer to the Copyright Act of 1978 as my basis.

[Michael]

I wrote an entire book--the first of an intended trilogy-- not realizing that the subject, and oddly enough many of the details, were the same as a published book. Which was the first in its own trilogy.

[April]

I wouldn't worry about it. As someone said before, you can't copyright titles. I wanted to name my first novel "Breathless." Do you know how many novels are called "Breathless?" Hundreds! So, multiple books with the same title is going to happen. Don't worry about it.

(I ended up selecting another title for my book so that it didn't get lost in that mountain of books called "Breathless.")

[Erin]

You can't copyright titles. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Brittany]

Thanks, everyone! I think I'm just going to leave it. Like I said, it's not even the actual title of the book, but of the trilogy (which will encompass three retellings in all). I really appreciate your help. I feel better about this now.